U.S. patent application number 15/000694 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-21 for vehicle signal lamp.
The applicant listed for this patent is Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Morihisa Yoshino.
Application Number | 20160208995 15/000694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56407535 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160208995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshino; Morihisa |
July 21, 2016 |
VEHICLE SIGNAL LAMP
Abstract
A vehicle signal lamp can include a first lamp unit, a second
lamp unit and a boundary between the first and second lamp units so
as to be attached continuously to vehicles including a trunk lid.
Each of at least one first light source, at least one second light
source and a boundary light source can be located in the first lamp
unit including a first outer lens and the second lamp unit
including a second outer lens, respectively. Each of the first
light source and the second light source can emit light from the
first outer lens and the second outer lens, respectively, and also
the boundary light source can illuminate the boundary by using the
second outer lens. Thus, the vehicle signal lamps with a simple
structure can be used for various signal lamps, and which can
provide a favorable light distribution as one continuous favorable
light-emitting pattern.
Inventors: |
Yoshino; Morihisa; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
56407535 |
Appl. No.: |
15/000694 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q 1/2607 20130101;
F21S 43/239 20180101; F21S 43/26 20180101; F21S 43/14 20180101;
B60Q 1/0041 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F21S 8/10 20060101
F21S008/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2015 |
JP |
2015-009145 |
Claims
1. A vehicle signal lamp comprising: a boundary; a first lamp unit
including a first casing having a first opening, a first outer lens
having a first inner portion, and a first lamp room, the first
outer lens attached to the first casing and covering the first
opening of the first casing, and thereby the first lamp room formed
between the first casing and the first outer lens, and the first
inner portion of the first outer lens extending in a direction
toward the first casing from the first outer lens along the
boundary; at least one first light source having a first
light-emitting direction located in the first lamp room, and the
first light-emitting direction of the first light source being
directed toward the first outer lens of the first lamp unit; a
second lamp unit including a first casing having a second opening,
a second outer lens having a second inner portion, and a second
lamp room, the second outer lens attached to the second casing and
covering the second opening of the second casing, and thereby the
second lamp room formed between the second casing and the second
outer lens, and the second inner portion of the second outer lens
extending in a direction toward the second casing from the second
outer lens along the boundary, and therefore facing the first inner
portion of the first outer lens via the boundary, which is located
between the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit, the second
inner portion of the second outer lens including a second inner end
surface, a second outer surface and a second inner surface located
in an opposite direction of the second outer surface, and
substantially facing the boundary, the second inner surface of the
second inner portion including a plurality of concavo-convex
surfaces, which extends in a substantially horizontal direction of
the vehicle signal lamp; a boundary light source having a boundary
light-emitting direction facing the second inner end surface of the
second outer lens, and the boundary light-emitting direction of the
boundary light source being directed toward the second inner end
surface of the second outer lens; and at least one second light
source having a second light-emitting direction located in the
second lamp room, and the second light-emitting direction of the
second light source being directed toward the second outer lens of
the second lamp unit.
2. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
3. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
4. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of the at least one first light source, the boundary light
source and the at least one second light source is a light-emitting
diode.
5. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, further
comprising: a second incident surface connecting to each of the
second outer surface and the second inner surface of the second
outer lens located in an opposite direction of the second inner end
surface of the second outer lens; and a second boundary light
source having a second optical axis facing the second incident
surface, and the second optical axis of the second boundary light
source intersecting with the incident surface at a substantially
right angle.
6. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein an
incident angle of the second boundary light source is less than 90
degrees with reference to the second outer surface of the second
inner portion.
7. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, further
comprising: a first incident surface connecting to the second inner
end surface of the second inner portion, being located toward the
second casing, facing the boundary light source, and be directed
toward the boundary light-emitting direction of the boundary light
source.
8. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, further
comprising: a first shade be attached to the second casing; and a
second shade attached to the casing, wherein each of the first
shade and the second shade surrounds the boundary light source.
9. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 7, further
comprising: a first shade be attached to the second casing; and a
second shade attached to the casing, wherein each of the first
shade and the second shade surrounds at least one of the boundary
light source and the second boundary light source.
10. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 1, further
comprising: at least one of a reflective layer and a refusing layer
formed on the plurality of concavo-convex surfaces of the second
inner surface.
11. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 4, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
12. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 4, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
13. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
14. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
15. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 6, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
16. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 6, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
17. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 7, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
18. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 7, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
19. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 8, wherein the at
least one first light source is used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
20. The vehicle signal lamp according to claim 8, wherein the at
least one second light source is used as a light source for at
least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp.
Description
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-009145 filed on
Jan. 21, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The presently disclosed subject matter relates to vehicle
signal lamps attached continuously to an openable and closable
trunk lid and a part of a vehicle body, which is located adjacent
the trunk lid, and more particularly relates to the vehicle signal
lamps with a simple structure, which can emits light having a
favorable light-intensity even from a space between the openable
and closable trunk lid and the part of the vehicle body located
adjacent the trunk lid.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Vehicle signal lamps such as a tail lamp, a stop lamp, a
turn signal lamp and the like are required to be attached to a rear
right and left of vehicles so that drivers moving vehicles from a
rearward direction of the vehicles can recognize driving conditions
such as moving in a frontward direction of the vehicles, going to
turn left, going to decrease speeds of the vehicles, etc. Such a
conventional rear signal lamp is disclosed in Patent document No. 1
(Japanese Patent Application Laid Open JP2012-123977).
[0006] FIG. 9a is a schematic rear view depicting a vehicle
incorporating a first conventional rear signal lamp, and FIG. 9b is
a schematic front view including a partial transparent view
depicting the first conventional rear signal lamp to be
incorporated into a rear right of the vehicle shown in FIG. 9a,
which is disclosed in Patent document No. 1. The vehicle 20
includes: a vehicular body 21; an openable and closable trunk lid
22 attached to the vehicle body 21, the trunk lid 22 including a
trunk knob 23 to open or close the trunk lid; and each of the rear
signal lamp 30R and 30L be symmetrically attached to a rear right
and left of the vehicle 20, respectively.
[0007] The rear signal lamp 30R, which is attached to the rear
right of the vehicle 20, includes a first rear lamp 31A, a second
rear lamp 31B and a boundary 39 located between the first rear lamp
31A and the second rear lamp 31B, as shown in FIG. 9b when the
trunk lid 22 closes. When the trunk lid 22 opens, each of the first
rear lamp 31A and the second rear lamp 31B may separate with
respect to each other from the boundary 39, because the trunk lid
22 moves in an upward direction of the vehicle body 21.
[0008] The first rear signal lamp 31A includes: a first casing 32A;
a first front lens 35A attached to the first casing 32A, extending
toward the boundary 39 and bending in an inward direction of the
boundary 39; a plurality of first light guides 33A located in the
first casing 32A, extending toward the boundary 39 along the first
front lens 35A; and a plurality of first light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) 34A each located at a respective one end of the first light
guides 33A located in an opposite direction of the boundary 39 so
as to emit light toward the second rear signal lamp 31B via the
respective one of the light guides 33A.
[0009] The second rear signal lamp 31B includes: a second casing
32B; a second front lens 35B attached to the second casing 32B,
extending toward the boundary 39 and bending in an inward direction
of the boundary 39; a plurality of second light guides 33B located
in the second casing 32B, extending toward the boundary 39 along
the second front lens 35B; and a plurality of second LEDs 34B each
located at a respective one end of the first light guides 33B
located in an opposite direction of the boundary 39 so as to emit
light toward the first rear signal lamp 31A via the respective one
of the second light guides 33B.
[0010] Hence, the first conventional rear signal lamp 30R may
illuminate the boundary 39 by using the lights emitted from the
first LEDs 34A via the respective one of the first light guides 33A
and by using the lights emitted from the second LEDs 34B via the
respective one of the second light guides 33B. Similarly, the first
conventional rear signal lamp 30L, which is attached to the rear
left of the vehicle 20, may also illuminate a left boundary caused
between a first rear signal lamp and a second rear signal lamp of
the rear signal lamp 30L.
[0011] However, the above-described first conventional lamp 30R
needs the first plurality of light guides 33A and the second
plurality of light guides 33B to illuminate the boundary 39, which
coordinates with various signal lamps such as a tail lamp, a stop
lamp, etc. Such a structure including the light guides may be
subject to a complex configuration. Consequently, a second
conventional rear signal lamp, which includes two light guides
formed in a planar shape, is disclosed in Patent document No. 2
(Japanese Patent Application Laid Open JP2014-123547).
[0012] FIG. 10a is a schematic front view depicting a second
conventional rear signal lamp, and FIG. 10b is a schematic partial
cross-sectional top view of Circle C shown in FIG. 10a depicting
the second conventional rear signal lamp, which is disclosed in
Patent document No. 2. The second conventional rear signal lamp 40
includes a first rear lamp 41A, a second rear lamp 41B and a
boundary 49 located between the first rear lamp 41A and the second
rear lamp 41B, as shown in FIG. 10b.
[0013] The first rear lamp 41A includes: a first casing 42A; a
first front lens 43A attached to the first casing 42A, extending
toward the boundary 49 and bending in an inward direction of the
boundary 49; a first inner cover 44A formed in a planar shape,
located between the first casing 42A and the first front lens 43A,
and a longitudinal direction thereof extending toward the boundary
39 along the front lens 43A; a first light guide plate 46A having a
first guide end and a second guide end formed in a planar shape,
located between the first casing 42A and the inner cover 44A, a
longitudinal direction thereof the extending toward the boundary 49
along the first front lens 43A, and the first guide end facing said
bending portion of the first front lens 43A; a first light source
45A facing the second guide end of the first light guide plate 46A
so that light emitted from the first light source 45A may be
emitted toward the first front lens 43A via the first inner cover
44A by reflecting a part of the light on a rear surface of the
first light guide plate 46A and also may be emitted toward the
bending portion of the first front lens 43A by reflecting another
part of the light on a front surface of the first light guide plate
46A.
[0014] The second rear lamp 41B includes: a second casing 42B; a
second front lens 43B attached to the second casing 42B, extending
toward the boundary 49 and bending in an inward direction of the
boundary 49; a second inner cover 44B formed in a substantially
planar shape, located between the first casing 42B and the second
front lens 43B, and bending along the boundary 49, and a
longitudinal direction thereof extending toward the boundary 39
along the second front lens 43B; a second light guide plate 46B
having a second guide end 46BE formed in a substantially planar
shape, located between the second casing 42B and the second inner
cover 44B, a longitudinal direction of the second light guide plate
46B extending toward the boundary 39 along the second front lens
43B, and the second guide end 46BE facing said bending portion of
the second front lens 43B via the bending portion of the second
inner cover 44B; a second light source 45B facing another second
guide end of the second light guide plate 46B located in an
opposite direction of the second guide end 46BE so that light
emitted from the second light source 45B may be emitted toward the
second front lens 43B via the second inner cover 44B by reflecting
a part of the light on a rear surface of the second light guide
plate 46B and also may be emitted toward the bending portion of the
second front lens 43B via the second inner cover 44B by reflecting
another part of the light on a front surface of the second light
guide plate 46B.
[0015] Hence, the second conventional rear signal lamp 40 may emit
lights from the first front lens 43A and the second front lens 43B
in rearward directions of vehicles incorporating the rear signal
lamp 40, and also may emit lights from the bending portion of the
first and the second front lenses 43A and 43B toward the boundary
49. Additionally, Patent document 2 discloses that light emitted
from a third light source 45C attached to the second casing 42B may
also be emitted toward at least the boundary 49 by reflecting the
light on the rear surface of the second light guide plate 46B, as
shown in FIG. 10b.
[0016] Accordingly, the second conventional rear signal lamp 40 may
also illuminate the boundary 49 located between the first signal
lamp 41A and the second signal lamp 41B by using each of the two
light guide plates 46A and 47A of the first signal lamp 41A and the
second signal lamp 41B. However, each of the first light guide
plate 46A and the second light guide plate 46B needs to reflect
each of the lights toward the first inner cover 44A and the second
inner cover 44B while reflecting each of parts of the lights toward
the boundary 49 by using the rear surface and the front surface
thereof, respectively. Therefore, the second conventional rear
signal lamp 40 may also be subject to a complex structure, and also
it may become difficult for the conventional rear signal lamp 40 to
control the lights by using each of the first light guide plate 46A
and the second light guide plate 46B in order to provide a
favorable light distribution in accordance with each of kinds of
the vehicles.
[0017] The above-referenced Patent Documents are listed below, and
are hereby incorporated with their English abstracts in their
entireties.
1. Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open
JP2012-123977
2. Patent Document No. 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open
JP2014-123547
[0018] The disclosed subject matter has been devised to consider
the above and other problems, features, and characteristics. Thus,
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can include vehicle
signal lamps with a simple structure, which is attached
continuously to an openable and closable trunk lid and a part of a
vehicle body located adjacent the trunk lid, and which can
illuminate even a space caused by a boundary between the trunk lid
and the part of the vehicle body. Therefore, the disclosed subject
matter can provide the vehicle signal lamps that can be used for a
tail lamp, a stop lamp, a turn signal lamp and the like, which are
attached to a rear right and left of vehicles, and which do not
cause and/or are designed to prevent some of the above-described
problems, concerns, and characteristics related to a lighting of
the boundary.
SUMMARY
[0019] The presently disclosed subject matter has been devised in
view of the above and other problems, features, and
characteristics. An aspect of the disclosed subject matter includes
vehicle signal lamps with a simple structure, which can be used for
various signal lamps such as a tail lamp and the like, and which
can provide a favorable light distribution even from the boundary
in addition to two light-emitting surfaces as one continuous
favorable light-emitting pattern by using a light-emitting surface
connecting to one of the two light-emitting surfaces.
[0020] According to an aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a
vehicle signal lamp can include: a boundary; a first lamp unit
including a first casing and a first outer lens, the first outer
lens attached to the first casing and covering a first opening of
the first casing, and thereby a first lamp room formed between the
first casing and the first outer lens, and a first inner portion of
the first outer lens extending in a direction toward the first
casing from the first outer lens along the boundary; at least one
first light source located in the first lamp room, and a first
light-emitting direction of the first light source being directed
toward the first outer lens of the first lamp unit; and a second
lamp unit including a first casing and a second outer lens, the
second outer lens attached to the second casing and covering a
second opening of the second casing, and thereby a second lamp room
formed between the second casing and the second outer lens, and a
second inner portion of the second outer lens extending in a
direction toward the second casing from the second outer lens along
the boundary, and therefore facing the first inner portion of the
first outer lens via the boundary, which is located between the
first lamp unit and the second lamp unit, the second inner portion
of the second outer lens including a second inner end surface, a
second outer surface and a second inner surface located in an
opposite direction of the second outer surface, and substantially
facing the boundary, the second inner surface of the second inner
portion including a plurality of concavo-convex surfaces, which
extends in a substantially horizontal direction of the vehicle
signal lamp.
[0021] In addition, the vehicle signal lamp can also include: a
boundary light source facing the second inner end surface of the
second outer lens, and a boundary light-emitting direction of the
boundary light source being directed toward the second inner end
surface of the second outer lens; and at least one second light
source located in the second lamp room, and a second light-emitting
direction of the second light source being directed toward the
second outer lens of the second lamp unit.
[0022] In the above-described exemplary vehicle signal lamp, the
signal lamp can further include a second incident surface
connecting to each of the second outer surface and the second inner
surface of the second outer lens located in an opposite direction
of the second inner end surface of the second outer lens, and a
second boundary light source facing the second incident surface,
and a second optical axis of the second boundary light source
intersecting with the incident surface at a substantially right
angle, and also can further include a first incident surface
connecting to the second inner end surface of the second inner
portion, being located toward the second casing, facing the
boundary light source, and be directed toward the boundary
light-emitting direction of the boundary light source.
Additionally, the signal lamp can further include a first shade be
attached to the second casing, and a second shade attached to the
casing, wherein each of the first shade and the second shade
surrounds the boundary light source, and also can further include
at least one of a reflective layer and a refusing layer formed on
the plurality of concavo-convex surfaces of the second inner
surface.
[0023] In the above-described exemplary vehicle signal lamps, the
at least one first light source can be used as a light source for
at least one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp, and the at least one
second light source can also used as a light source for at least
one of a tail lamp and a stop lamp. Additionally, at least one of
the at least one first light source, the boundary light source and
the at least one second light source can be a light-emitting
diode.
[0024] According to the above-described exemplary vehicle signal
lamps, the boundary light source can illuminate the boundary
located between the first outer lens and the second outer lens by
using the second outer lens and the like in addition to each of the
first light source located in the first lamp room and the second
light source located in the second lamp room. Thus, the disclosed
subject matter can provide vehicle signal lamps with a simple
structure, which can be used for various signal lamps such as a
tail lamp and the like, and which can provide a favorable light
distribution even from the boundary in addition to two
light-emitting surfaces as one continuous favorable light-emitting
pattern by using a light-emitting surface connecting to one of the
two light-emitting surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] These and other characteristics and features of the
disclosed subject matter will become clear from the following
description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an exemplary embodiment of a
vehicle signal lamp made in accordance with principles of the
disclosed subject matter;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional top view taken along
Line A-A shown in FIG. 1 showing the vehicle signal lamp;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view taken along
Line B-B shown in FIG. 1 showing the vehicle signal lamp;
[0029] FIGS. 4a and 4b are explanatory views from Direction C shown
in FIG. 3 depicting each of lights emitted from inner light sources
in accordance with each of shapes of the inner end surfaces used as
an incident surface shown in FIG. 3, respectively, and FIG. 4c is
an exemplary circuit diagram for the vehicle signal lamp of FIG.
1;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view taken along
Line B-B shown in FIG. 1 showing a first exemplary variation of the
vehicle signal lamp of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view taken along
Line B-B shown in FIG. 1 showing a second exemplary variation of
the vehicle signal lamp of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view taken along
Line B-B shown in FIG. 1 showing a third exemplary variation of the
vehicle signal lamp of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional top view taken along
Line A-A shown in FIG. 1 showing a fourth exemplary variation of
the vehicle signal lamp of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 9a is a schematic rear view depicting a vehicle
incorporating a first conventional rear signal lamp, and FIG. 9b is
a schematic front view including a partial transparent view
depicting the first conventional rear signal lamp to be
incorporated into a rear right of the vehicle shown in FIG. 9a;
and
[0035] FIG. 10a is a schematic front view depicting a second
conventional rear signal lamp, and FIG. 10b is a schematic partial
cross-sectional top view of Circle C shown in FIG. 10a depicting
the second conventional rear signal lamp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will
now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8. FIG.
1 is a front view showing an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle
signal lamp device made in accordance with principles of the
disclosed subject matter. The vehicle signal lamp 1 can be
incorporated into a rear right of a vehicle in common with the
first conventional rear signal lamp as shown in FIG. 9a and FIG.
9b. A vehicle signal lamp incorporated into a rear left of the
vehicle can be substantially symmetrical to the vehicle signal lamp
1. Accordingly, the vehicle signal lamp 1 will now be described in
detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.
[0037] The vehicle signal lamp 1 can include a first lamp unit 2,
which is attached to an openable and closable trunk lid of a
vehicle, a second lamp unit 3, which is attached to a vehicle body
of the vehicle located adjacent the trunk lid of the vehicle, and
can also be employed as a rear combination lamp of the vehicle.
Therefore, when the truck lid opens, each of the first lamp unit 2
and the second lamp unit 3 can separate with respect to each other
from a boundary 1B, which is located between the first lamp unit 2
and the second lamp unit 3. When the truck lid closes, the boundary
1B can be located between the first lamp unit 2 and the second lamp
unit 3.
[0038] The first lamp unit 2 can include a first casing 4 having a
first opening 4P and a first outer lens 6 attached to the first
casing 4 and covering the first opening 4P, and also the second
lamp unit 3 can include a second casing 5 having a second opening
5P and a second outer lens 7 attached to the second casing 5 and
covering the second opening 5P. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional
top view taken along Line A-A shown in FIG. 1 showing the vehicle
signal lamp 1, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view
taken along Line B-B shown in FIG. 1 showing the vehicle signal
lamp 1.
[0039] Each of the first casing 4 and the second casing 5 can
include the first opening 4P and the second opening 5P,
respectively. Each of the first outer lens 6 and the second outer
lens 7 can be made from a transparent material such as an acrylic
resin, which may pass though light, and can cover the first opening
4P of the first casing 4 and the second opening 5P of the second
casing 5, respectively. Accordingly, each of the first lamp unit 2
and the second lamp unit 3 can include a first lamp room S1 and a
second lamp room S2, which are surrounded by each of the first
casing 4 and the first outer lens 6 and by each of the second
casing 5 and the second outer lens 7, respectively.
[0040] The first outer lens 6 of the first lamp unit 2 can include
a first inner portion 6A, which extends along the boundary 1B in a
direction toward the first casing 4 from the first outer lens 6
located in a rearward direction of the vehicle. The second outer
lens 7 of the second lamp unit 3 can also include a second inner
portion 7A, which extends long the boundary 1B in a direction
toward the second casing 5 from the second outer lens 7 located in
the rearward direction of the vehicle.
[0041] Therefore, the second inner portion 7A of the second outer
lens 7 can substantially face the first inner portion 6A via the
boundary 1B. The second inner portion 7A of the second outer lens 7
can include a second outer surface 7A1, which is formed in a
substantially planar shape and which extends in a direction toward
the first lamp room S1 at a substantially right angle with
reference to the second inner portion 7A, and can include a second
inner surface 7a, which is located in an opposite direction of the
second outer surface 7A1, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0042] In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the second inner surface 7a
can include a plurality of concavo-convex surfaces, which extends
in a substantially horizontal direction of the vehicle signal lamp
1 and which aligns in a substantially vertical direction of the
vehicle signal lamp 1, when the vehicle signal lamp 1 is
incorporated into the vehicle. On the plurality of concavo-convex
surfaces of the second inner surface 7a, a reflecting layer such as
an aluminum layer and/or a refusing layer such as refusing dots can
be formed to improve a light-emitting efficiency.
[0043] The second inner portion 7A of the second outer lens 7 can
include a second inner end surface 7b, which connects to the second
inner surface 7a and is used as an incident surface for the second
inner surface 7a in addition to the second outer surface 7A1. The
second inner end surface 7b of the second inner portion 7A can face
a boundary light source 8 such as a light-emitting diode (LED), a
bulb and the like, which is mounted on a circuit board 9, and
therefore can revive light emitted from the boundary light source 8
to be entered between the second outer surface 7A1 and the second
inner surface 7a.
[0044] In this case, the light emitted from the boundary light
source 8 can be reflected by the second inner surface 7a including
the plurality of concavo-convex surfaces, and can illuminate the
boundary 1B via the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner
portion 7A, which substantially faces the boundary 1B as shown in
FIG. 2. Additionally, when the light emitted from the boundary
light source 8 is observed from Direction C shown in FIG. 3, the
light emitted from the boundary light source 8 differs according to
a shape of the inner end surfaces 7b used as the incident surface
as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.
[0045] Accordingly, each of the concavo-convex surfaces of the
second inner surface 7a cannot be limited to a linear shape. Each
of the concavo-convex surfaces of the second inner surface 7a can
be formed in various shapes, provided the concavo-convex surfaces
extend in the substantially horizontal direction of the vehicle
signal lamp 1, when the vehicle signal lamp 1 is incorporated into
the vehicle.
[0046] When the vehicle signal lamp 1 is used for a rear
combination signal lamp, each of second light sources S2-1, S2-2
and S2-3 such as the LED, the bulb and the like can be attached to
the second casing 5 in the second lamp room S2 so that each of
light-emitting directions S2-1D of the second light sources S2-1,
S2-2 and S2-3 can be directed toward the second outer lens 7,
respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, each of first light
sources S1-1, S1-2 and S1-3 such as the LED, the bulb and the like
can be attached to the first casing 4 in the first lamp room S1 so
that each of light-emitting directions of the first light sources
S1-1, S-2 and S1-3 can be directed toward the first outer lens 6,
respectively.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 4c in which the LED is used as each of the
light sources, when the rear combination signal lamp of the vehicle
signal lamp 1 is used for a tail lamp showing a vehicle width
indicator at night, each of the first light source S1-1 located in
the first lamp room S1, the second light source S2-1 and the
boundary light source 8 located in the second lamp room S2 can emit
red lights in the rearward direction of the vehicle incorporating
the vehicle signal lamp 1 via the first outer lens 6, the second
outer lens 7 and the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner
portion 7A by turning on a tail lamp switch 18S connecting to a
battery 19B used as a power source.
[0048] In this case, the boundary light source 8 can illuminate the
boundary 1B located between the first outer lens 6 and the second
outer lens 7 in addition to each of the first light source S1-1
located in the first lamp room S1 and the second light source S2-1
located in the second lamp room S2. Therefore, the red lights
emitted in the rearward direction of the vehicle incorporating the
vehicle signal lamp 1 from the first outer lens 6, the second outer
lens 7 and the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner portion
7A can be observed as one continuous favorable light-emitting
pattern by drivers moving from the rearward direction of the
vehicle toward the vehicle with confidence.
[0049] When the rear combination signal lamp of the vehicle signal
lamp 1 is used for a stop lamp, which indicates going to stop the
vehicle incorporating the vehicle signal lamp 1, each of the first
light sources S1-1, S1-2 and S1-3 located in the first lamp room
S1, the second light sources S2-1, S-2 and S2-3 and the boundary
light source 8 located in the second lamp room S2 can emit red
lights in the rearward direction of the vehicle via the first outer
lens 6, the second outer lens 7 and the second outer surface 7A1 of
the second inner portion 7A by turning on a stop lamp switch 17S
connecting to the battery 19B.
[0050] In this case also, the boundary light source 8 can
illuminate the boundary 1B located between the first outer lens 6
and the second outer lens 7 in addition to each of the first light
sources S1-1, S1-2 and S1-3 located in the first lamp room S1 and
the second light sources S2-1, S2-2 and S2-3 located in the second
lamp room S2. Accordingly, the red lights having a higher
light-intensity than the tail lamp emitted in the rearward
direction of the vehicle incorporating the vehicle signal lamp 1
from the first outer lens 6, the second outer lens 7 and the second
outer surface 7A1 of the second inner portion 7A can be observed as
one continuous favorable light-emitting pattern by drivers moving
from the rearward direction of the vehicle toward the vehicle with
confidence.
[0051] When the vehicle signal lamp 1 emits the red lights, a red
LED can be used as each of the light sources. If a white LED or the
bulb is used as each of the light sources, each of the first outer
lens 6 and the second outer lens 7 including the second inner
portion 7A can be composed of a red transparent resin. Each of
resistances 11R, 12R, 13R, 14R, 15R, 16R and 8R can adjust each
light-intensity of the light sources connecting to the resistances
by varying each current of the light sources, respectively.
Additionally, a diode 8D can be used not to emit the stop lamp when
the tail lamp switch 18S turns on.
[0052] Next, exemplary variations of the vehicle signal lamp 1 will
now be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8. A first
exemplary variation relates to a location of the boundary light
source 8 as shown FIG. 5. The vehicle signal lamp 1 can include the
boundary light source 8 facing the second inner end surface 7b of
the second inner portion 7A as shown in FIG. 3. The first variation
of the vehicle signal lamp 1 can include a second boundary light
source 10 having a second optical axis 10OX, which is located in an
opposite direction of the boundary light source 8 and which faces a
second incident surface 10L connecting to each of the second outer
surface 7A1 and the second inner surface 7a of the second outer
lens 7 so that the second optical axis 10OX intersects with the
incident surface 10L at a substantially right angle. An incident
angle 10A of the second boundary light source 10 can be less than
90 degrees with reference to the second outer surface 7A1 of the
second inner portion 7A.
[0053] In addition, both the boundary light source 8 facing the
second inner end surface 7b of the second inner portion 7A and the
second boundary light source 10 facing the second incident surface
10L can be used as the light source for the second outer surface
7A1 of the second inner portion 7A in a second exemplary variation
shown in FIG. 6. When the boundary 1B is long in a longitudinal
direction thereof, each of the boundary light source 8 and the
second boundary light source 10 can illuminate the boundary 1B with
a high light-emitting efficiency and a high uniformity.
[0054] In a third exemplary variation shown in FIG. 7, the boundary
light source 8 can be located toward the second casing 5 with
respect to the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner portion
7A by providing a first incident surface 8L connecting to the
second inner end surface 7b of the second inner portion 7A. In this
case, the light emitted from the boundary light source 8 can also
illuminate the boundary 1B with a high light-emitting efficiency
via the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner portion 7A by
providing a reflecting surface 7c between the first incident
surface 8L and the second inner end surface 7b.
[0055] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view taken along Line A-A
shown in FIG. 1 showing a fourth exemplary variation of the vehicle
signal lamp 1. The fourth variation of the vehicle signal lamp 1
relates to additions of a first shade 5a and a second shade 5b in
the vehicle signal lamp 1. Each of the first shade 5a and the
second shade 5b can be attached to the second casing 5 so as to
surround at least one of the boundary light source 8 and the second
boundary light source 10, which are respectively located at a
respective one of end portions of the second outer surface 7A1 of
the second inner portion 7A as being not able to be shown in FIG.
8, and therefore can prevent at least one of the boundary light
source 8 and the second boundary light source 10 from leakages of
light in directions other than the boundary 1B.
[0056] As described above, for example, when the vehicle signal
lamp 1 is used for a tail lamp showing a vehicle width indicator at
night, each of the first light source S1-1 located in the first
lamp room S1, the second light source S2-1 and the boundary light
source 8 located in the second lamp room S2 can emit the red lights
in the rearward direction of the vehicle incorporating the vehicle
signal lamp 1 via the first outer lens 6, the second outer lens 7
and the second outer surface 7A1 of the second inner portion 7A by
turning on the tail lamp switch 18S.
[0057] Accordingly, the boundary light source 8 can illuminate the
boundary 1B located between the first outer lens 6 and the second
outer lens 7 in addition to each of the first light source S1-1
located in the first lamp room S1 and the second light source S2-1
located in the second lamp room S2. Therefore, the red lights
emitted in the rearward direction of the vehicle incorporating the
vehicle signal lamp 1 from the first outer lens 6 and the second
outer lens 7 including the second outer surface 7A1 can be observed
as one continuous favorable light-emitting pattern by drivers
moving from the rearward direction of the vehicle toward the
vehicle with confidence.
[0058] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are described
as a tail lamp and a stop lamp for a vehicle signal lamp. However,
the vehicle signal lamp can incorporate various signal lamps such
as a turn signal lamp, a side marker lamp, etc. In addition, it is
conceived that each of the different aspects and features of the
different embodiments disclosed herein could be used
interchangeably in and with the other disclosed embodiments. For
example, by separating the lamp room S2 of the second lamp unit 3
into the lamp room 2 and an additional third lamp room, the third
lamp room can also be used for the turn signal lamp, which blinks
amber light.
[0059] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed
subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope of the
presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the
presently disclosed subject matter cover the modifications and
variations of the presently disclosed subject matter provided they
come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
All related art references described above are hereby incorporated
in their entirety by reference.
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